This day in 1918 in The Record: March 2

Saturday, March 2, 1918. “Why the thing is going on all the time!” a Troy policeman exclaims after the latest report of Black Hand activity in the First Precinct this weekend.

Investigators apply the “Black Hand” label to extortion or shakedown operations against individuals or businesses in Italian immigrant neighborhoods. The name reportedly derives from a black hand print commonly used on criminals’ extortion letters.

The Sunday Budget reports that an unnamed local contractor was robbed by Black Hand gangsters at his home.

“The story was to the effect that the man relieved of the money was waited upon at his home by three men who did not even make pretense of disguise and who, without ceremony, demanded $100,” a reporter writes.

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“They were evidently posted as to his possession of that much money, the fact being that he had been paid it for work just finished. He handed the cash over and made no report of the matter to the police, for reasons best known to himself. A member of his family, however, spoke of it and in that way the police got wind of it.”

Unsurprisingly under the circumstances, chief of detectives Edward Flannigan tells the Budget that “he had heard the report and made investigation, but could not get any reliable information to act upon.”

While this alleged incident is typical of the Black Hand at its reputed worst, police sources say that gangsters have figured out more subtle means of getting money from victims.

“A scheme of the operators at present is not to make a direct demand for money accompanied by threats, but to call at a store, or the home of the victim selected (always an Italian) and leave from ten to twenty tickets for an entertainment which never takes place.

“The modest price of $5 each [equivalent in buying power to $88 in 2018] is asked for the tickets and the man receiving them understands very well that none are to be returned, that all are to be paid for, and no questions are to be asked.”

Union Trims Rensselaer

One of the biggest RPI basketball crowds of the season watches Union College dominate their Cherry and White rivals in a “fast and interesting” game tonight, the Budget reports.

Union never trails after scoring the game’s first basket. The visitors lead 11-6 at halftime and RPI never gets closer than three points to tying the contest. Union eventually pulls away for a 25-11 victory. Left forward Ewing is RPI’s top scorer with one basket and five free throws.